Handling apparatus for hollow coils and the like



June 17, 1952 s. F. JACKES ETAL 2,600,538

HANDLING APPARATUS FOR HOLLOW COILS AND THE LIKE- Filed Sept. 26, 1946 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 17, 1952 s. F. JACKES' ETAL 2,

THE LIKE HANDLING'APPARATUS FOR HOLLOW cons AND Filed Sept. 26, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 s. F. JACKES ETAL 2,600,538

HANDLING APPARATUS FOR HOLLOW cons AND THE LIKE June 17, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 26, 1946 74A 912: /'/W M a Patented June 17, 1952 HANDLING APPARATUS FOR HOLLOW COILS AND THE LIKE Stanley F. Jackes, University City, Mo., and Ray H. Sheets, Granite City, 111., assignors to J ackes- Evans Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application September 26, 1946, Serial No. 699,476

5 Claims. (Cl. 294-82) This invention relates to handling apparatus for heavy, hollow cylindrical objects, such as coils of sheet metal, wire and the like.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of handling apparatus adapted to facilitate the conveying of heavy, hollow cylindrical objects, particularly coils of sheet metal, from an improved place of storage to a place of use; the provision of apparatus of this class adapted safely to facilitate the conveying of coils from vertical stacks to an apparatus wherein the coil is to be supported with its axis horizontal; the provision of apparatus of this class embodying a single hoist-line implement adapted to be suspended from a traversing hoist to raise, lowerand convey a coil with the axis of the coil either vertical or horizontal; the provision of apparatus of this class embodying improved means for accurately centering said implement with respect to the axes of stacks of coils; and the provision of apparatus such as described which is safe and reliable in operation. Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated.

Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse section through a plant installation embodying the improved handling apparatus of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section through the installation taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a central transverse section through a coil sling employed in connection with the handling apparatus of this invention, being taken on line 33 of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the hoist-line implement of this invention, parts being broken away and parts being shown in section;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6-5 of Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 7 is a view of a portion of Fig. 4, illustrat ing certain parts in a different operating position;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary exploded View of certain elements of the hoist-line implement;

Fig. 9 is a view of the hoist-line implement carrying a coil with the axis of the coil horizontal, the coil being shown in section; and,

Fig. 10 is a view of a device for maintaining the hoist-line implement in proper angular relation with respect to the hoist.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The apparatus of this invention is described herein particularly with reference to-its use in handling heavy sheet-metal coils, but it will be understood that it may be employed in handling coils or rolls of other materials, reels or the like, and even hollow cylindrical bodies of any nature, such as sections of pipe or the like.

The preferable mode of storing commercial coils of sheet metal is to arrange the coils vertically in stacks, the coils in each stack having their axes verticaland substantially in alignment for stability. This arrangement provides for maximum safety and most eifective utilization of storage space. It is preferable to storing coils in piles on their sides since such piles are apt to collapse if their lateral supports are inadequate, and .the heavy coils may cause severe injury to personnel and property in rolling outward on collapse of the pile. An objection to storing the coils in the preferred mode, however, has been the lack of suitable apparatus for conveniently and economically conveying the coils from their storage positions to their place of use. This invention provides novel apparatus for so conveying coils from such stacks and makes feasible and practical the storing of coils in the preferred mode.

Referring now to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a typical installation wherein the handling apparatus of this invention is utilized. Vertical stacks S of coils C are disposed in a storage pit P adjacent an operating floor or dock D. An overhead traveling crane H spans the dock and the pit and is movable longitudinally thereover. Each coil rests on the platform of a coil sling F. The lowest sling in a stack rests directly on the floor of the pit and the platforms of the other slings in the stack rest on the upper end of the coil immediately below. The top coil in any stack is adapted to be lifted by means of the hoist-line implement i of this invention which is suspended from the hoist line of the crane and is adapted to grapple the sling for said coil in a manner to be described.

As illustrated in Figs. l-3, coil sling F comprises a platform 3 of such configuration as to provide edgewise support for all the convolutions of the coil. The platform is made up of channel bars secured together as by welding, and has a central opening I. Extending upward from the platform is a hollow tapered spindle having a cap 9 at its upper end. The spindle is preferably made up of a number of bars I! having their lower ends secured to the channel bars within the central opening of the platform and converging toward cap 9, to which their upper ends are secured. The cap 9 is a casting formed to provide an undercut rounded knob |3, the undercut surface I5 of which is adapted to be engaged by grappling hooks on the hoistline implement I to be described.

The spindle of the coil sling extends through the eye of the coil carried on its platform and is of such height that the cap 9 and particularly knob I3 project above the coil. In the stacks S, the knob I3 of a coil sling is disposed within the central opening and hollow spindle of the sling immediately above (Fig. 1).

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 4-8, the hoist-line implement is shown to comprise a c-shaped frame having an upper horizontal arm H, a vertical side arm I9 and a lower horizontal cantilever arm 2|. This frame is preferably made up of H-beam sections. Welded to the upper arm I lie an eye 23 providing means for suspension of the frame from the book of the crane hoist.

At the free end of the cantilever arm 2|, the web of the H-beam section is cut away on a bevel, as indicated at 25. The lower flange of the arm is cut away as indicated at 21. A pivot pin 29 carried in an aperture in the web of the arm 2| projects equally from opposite sides thereof. This pin provides means for the piv-' otal mounting of a grappling device comprising a pair of grappling hooks 3| and 33 depending from the pin. The pin 29 is directly vertically under eye 23 so that the hooks are vertically aligned with the eye.

Hook 3| comprises a generally semicylindrical body having its flat face 35 cored out, as indicated at 31, to provide a semiannular hooking ledge 39. Transversely spaced, apertured lugs 4| and 43 are integrally formed at the upper end of the hook. Hook 33similarly comprises a generally semicylindrical body having its flat face ||5 cored out, as indicated at 41, to provide a semiannular hooking ledge 43. Transversely spaced, apertured lugs 5| and 53 are integrally formed at the upper end of hook 33. The pin 29 extends through the apertures in all of the aforesaid lugs and the arrangement is such that the hooks 3| and 33 are gravity-biased normally to depend vertically with their fiat faces '35 and 45 in engagement, and with ledges 39 and 49 forming a complete annular hooking ledge. The lugs 4| and 53 are disposed on one side of the web of the arm 2| and the lugs 43 and 5| are disposed on the other (see particularly Fig. 6).

The lower ends of the hooks 3| and 33 are countersunk, as indicated at 55, to provide camming surfaces which are adapted to cooperate with the rounded knob l3 of a coil sling F to spread the hooks apart when they are initially lowered upon the knob. When the hooks are lowered to the point where ledges 39 and 49 clear the undercut surface I5 of knob l3, they pivot inward toward each other to hook the ledges under the surface I5 so that the sling and coil thereon may be lifted and conveyed with the axis of the coil vertical.

The curved interior walls of the hooks 3| and 33 in the cored-out portions 31 and 49 form camming surfaces adapted to cooperate with knob I3 to spread the hooks apart when they are further lowered from the position of Fig. 4 to the position of Fig. 7. The implement I is provided with means for latch-ing the hook in this spread-apart, retracted position so that the implement may be raised away from the coil sling and coil thereon after the sling has been deposited in a desired location.

The aforesaid latching means comprises latching levers 51 and 59 for hooks 3| and 33, respectively. These levers are pivoted intermediate their ends on a pin 6| mounted in the web of the arm 2| adjacent its beveled end 25. The forward end of lever 51 is formed as a latch hook 63 adapted to engage a latching tooth 65 formed on lug 43 to latch the hook 3| in a retracted position. The forward end 81 of lever 59 is adapted to engage a latching tooth 69 formed on mg 53 to latch the hook 33 in retracted position.

The levers are under the control of a solenoid l I, their rearward ends being linked to the lunger 13 of the solenoid by spring links I5. The coil or the solenoid is mounted on the under side of the upper flange of arm 2| and is adapted to be energized through a power supply connection I6 including a plu 11 adapted to be plugged into an electric outlet in the hoist block to be described. The levers are connected to operate in unison by a bridge piece 18.

When the solenoid is dee'nergi'zed, the plunger I3 dro s out of the solenoid coil against a stop 19 to pivot the levers 51 and 59 clockwise to retract their forward endsfrom teeth 65 and B9 to permit hooks3| and 33 to close under their gravity bias. When the solenoid is energized, plunger I3 is drawn into its coil (Fig. 7) and levers 51 and 59 are pivoted until the engage the lugs 43 and 53. As the implement I is lowered to spread the hooks 3| and 33' apart (Fig. '7) the forward ends of the latching levers ride on the periphery of the lugs until they snap into latching position with respect to teeth 65 and 89 under the bias of the spring links I5. Fig. 7 illustrates the levers in latching position.

The hoist-line implement I also includes means for indicating to the operator whether or not the hooks are properly closed so that they will hook the knob I3. This indicating means includes a signal lamp 8| on the upper arm II of the c frame connected in series in a circuit 83 with a battery 85 and a pair of push button switches 3'! and 89 mounted on the frame. Switches 81 and 89 are individually controlled by levers 9| and 93 mounted for pivoting and sliding movemerit on a pin carried in the web of cantilever arm 2|. Switch 81 and lover 9| are mounted on one side of the web and switch 89 and lever 93 are mounted on the other. Levers 9| and 93 are provided with slots 91 and 99, respectively, through which pin 95 extends.

The forward end I91 of lever 9| cooperates with a tooth I03 formed on lug 4| so arranged as to move lever 9| to the left, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 7, as the hook 3| pivots from its retracted position of Fig. 7 to its closed position of Fig. 4. Lever 9| is biased to slide to the right so that its end |0| remains in engagement with tooth I03 and is also pivotally biased into engagement with the periphery of mg 4| by a tension spring I85, one end of which is attached to the rearward end of the lever, the other of which is attached to the arm 2| at 191.

The forward end of lever 93 is formed as a hook I09 cooperating with a tooth III formed on lug 5| so arranged as to move lever 93 to the right, as viewed in Figs. 4 and '7, as the hook 33 pivots from its retracted position of Fig. '1 to its closed position of Fig. 4. Lever 93 is biased to slide to the left so that its hook I09 remains in engagement with tooth III and is also pivotally biased into engagement with the periphery of lug 5| by a tension spring H3, one end of which is attached to the rearward end of the lever, the other end being attached to the arm 2| at H5.

The levers 9| and 93 are provided with fingers H1 and H9, respectively, for operating the push buttons |2I and I23 of switches 81 and 89, respectively. The switches are arranged with their push buttons extending in opposite directions so that the finger H1 of lever 9| will operate push button I2I in moving to the left and the finger H9 of lever 93 will operate push button I23 in moving to the right (Figs. 4 and '1). It will be clear that when the hooks 3| and 33 are in the closed position of Fig. 4, levers 9| and 93 have moved respectively to the left and right to push in the buttons of both switches and complete the circuit 83 to light lamp 8|. If the hooks 3| and 33 are in any position other than closed, or if one hook is closed and the other for some reason is not, the signal lam will be off and the operator will thus be informed that the hooks have not engaged knob I3 properly to lift a Sling and the coil thereon.

A housing I25 is preferably provided at the outer free end of cantilever arm 2| for the hooks 3| and 33, the solenoid 1 I, and the other elements at this end of the arm. This housing comprises side plates I21 having apertures I29 with their upper edges welded to the upper flange of arm 2 I. These plates I 21 carry the pin 29 in the apertures I29. The housing also includes a welded end closure plate I3I and welded side closure plates I30. It is open at its top, bottom and left end, as viewed in Figs. 4 and '7. A guard ring I33 is secured to the bottom edges of plates I39 as by welding. Cotter pins I35 retain the pin 29 in place within the apertures of plates I21 and lugs 4 I, 53, 43 and 5|. The aforesaid stop 19 is mounted within the housing I25.

The distance between the upper flange of lower cantilever arm 2| and the lower flange of the upper arm I1 of the frame and the cross-section of the lower arm 2|, hooks 3| and 33, and the housing I25 in a plane transverse to the length of the arm 2| are such that the arm 2| may be entered into the eye of a coil having its axis horizonta1 (Fig. 9) and the hoist-line implement I employed to lift, lower and convey coils in this fashion. A counterweight I31 is preferably provided on the outer free end of arm I1 to counterbalance the load on the arm 2|, which may be either a sling and coil vertically depending from the hooks 3| and 33, as in Fig. 1, or a coil being carried horizontally, as in Fig. 9.

The hoist-line implement I is adapted to be suspended from the hook I39 of the crane hoist block I4I carried by hoist line I43 suspended from the trolley hoist I45 of the traveling crane H. The trolley I45 is movable transversely on the bridge I41 of the crane from positions over the pit P to positions above the dock D. The crane bridge I41, as will be understood, is movable longitudinally of the installation on tracks I49. Movement of the bridge I41 and of the trolley I45 on the bridge, and operation of the hoisting winch or the like on the trolley, are under the control of suitable push button switch means I5I, I53 and I55. respectively, in control box I51 suspended by cable I59 from the bridge. This cable is suspended from an outrigger I6I on the bridge so that the control box is out of the way of the hoist-line implement I as it is moved over the dock from the pit. Further detail of the construction of the crane and its controls is omitted since they are well known in the art.

The control box I51 also includes a switch I63 for remote control of the solenoid 1| of the hoistline implement I. The plug 11 of the power supply connection 16 is plugged into an electrical outlet I65 in the hoist block I 4|, connection being made from this outlet through an electrical power supply cable I61 to a power line including switch I63. Suitable take-up means (not shown) to compensate for the raising and lowering of the hoist block may be provided for cable I53, as will be readily understood.

Assuming that a coil C is to be lifted from a stack S in the pit P and conveyed to an apparatus on the dock D wherein it is to be mounted with its axis horizontal, the operator manipulates switch means I5| to move the crane bridge I41 longitudinally of the pit to the point where the hoist block I 4| and the grappling hooks 3| and 33 are laterally aligned with the knob I3 of the coil sling F bearing the coil to be lifted. The operator walks along the dock as the bridge travels to maintain control of the switch means.

He then manipulates switch means I53 to cause the trolley I45 to travel on the bridge to the point where the hoist block and the hooks 3| and 33 are centered over said knob.

The installation includes novel means for facilitating the above operation so as to assure rapid, accurate centering of the hooks over the knob of the sling to be lifted. As illustrated in Fig. 2, each stack of coils is centered on a spotting point X on the floor of the storage pit. These points X are arranged in rows longitudinally and transversely of the pit. A signal lamp I1I (Fig. 1) is mounted on the crane bridge I41. This lamp is in a circuit I12 (Fig. 2) including a push button switch I 13 mounted on the end of the bridge. This switch is so located as to be operable by any one of a series of cams I15 which are fixed on the wall I11 and which are spaced apart distances corresponding to the longitudinal spacing of the spotting points X. The arrangement is such that the push button of switch I13 is pushed inward by a cam whenever the hoist block MI is in alignment with a transverse row of spotting points X.

Another signal lamp I19 is mounted on the trolley I45. This lamp is in a circuit including a push button switch |8| mounted on the trolley. This switch is so located'as to be operable by any one of a series of cams I83 which are fixed on the crane bridge I41 and which are spaced apart distances corresponding to the transverse spacing of the spotting points X. The arrangement is such that the push button of switch IBI is pushed inward by a cam I83 whenever the hoist block is in alignment with a longitudinal row of spotting points X.

From the above, it will be clear that in spotting the grappling hooks above the knob of a particular coil sling, the operator causes the bridge I41 to travel rapidly until the hoist block MI and hooks 3| and 33 are substantially aligned with the transverse row of stacks in which the particular sling lies, then inches the bridge until the signal lamp I 1| lights, indicating that the hooks are accurately transversely aligned with the knob of the sling. He then causes the trolley'to travel rapidlyon the bridge until the hooks are adjacent the longitudinal row of stacks in which the particular sling lies, then inches the trolley until the signal lamp I19 lights, indicating that the hooks are accurately centered over the knob of the sling.

It will be understood that the above centering operations are carried out with the hoist-line implement I well above the stacks of coils. After the hooks 31 and 33 have been centered over the sling to be lifted, the operator manipulates switch means I55 to lower the hooks upon the knob I3 of the sling. As the hooks are lowered upon the knob, their countersunk camming surfaces 55 engage the knob and the hooks are thereby sprea'd apart. The frame is lowered until the hooking ledges 49 and 39 clear the undercut surface I5 of the knob, whereupon the hooks are gravity-biased to the closed position of Fig. 4. In this position the ledges 39 and 49 are hooked under the surface l5 of the knob so that the sling may be lifted. If the hooks are properly closed, signal lamp 9 1 will be lighted, as previously explained, indicating to the operator that it is safe to proceed to lift up the sling and coil thereon. If the lamp 8| is not lighted, the operator is informed that he should not proceed to lift up the sling, and he then further lowers the implement I to cause the hooks to spread apart due to engagement of camming surfaces 3! and 41 with the knob I3 (Fig. 7), then raises the frame to permit the hooks properly to close.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, it is preferable that the frame of the hoist-line implement be at an angle of 45" to the longitudinal and transverse rows of stacks to permit the stacking of the coils as closely together as possible for the most effective utilization of storage space. The frame is maintained in this angular relation by means of a retainer I85 for the swivel hook I39 on the hoist block I4! This retainer comprises a slotted plate l8! mounted on the hoist block by means of stir'rups' I89. The hook I39 is retained in one or the other of slots I9l in the plate, these slots intersecting at right angles to each other and being at an angle of 45 to the vertical plane through the axis of rotation of the sheave in the block (Fig. 10).

After the sling and the coil thereon has been lifted out of the pit to a suificient height to clear the dock D, the bridge I61 and the trolley I 45 are traversed to bring the sling and coil above a coil turner 'I on the floor of the dock (Fig.

1). This coil turner is particularly described in our copending application for Apparatus For Turning Coils or the Like, Serial No. 699,260, filed September 25, 1946 now Patent No. 2,564,- 435, dated August "14, 1951. For the purposes of this disclosure, it is considered sufficient to point out that the coil turner comprises a pivoted carrier I93 for receiving the slin and coil there on and turning the coil from a vertical to a horizontal position. The carrier includes pivotally mounted arms I95 which are laterally retractable after the coil has been turned to horizontal position so that the sling may be pulled out of the eye of the coil.

After the sling with the coil thereon has been deposited on the arms 195 of the coil turner, the frame is further lowered to cause the hooks 3| and 33 to spread apart due to engagement of camming surfaces 31 and 41 with knob 13 (Fig. 7). The operator then manipulates solenoid control switch I63 to energize solenoid H to cause latching levers 51 and 59 to pivot counterclockwise. This latches the hooks in retracted position, as previously described, and permits the frame to be raised to the dotted line position of Fig. 1 free of the sling. The operator must maintain switch I63 closed until the hooks 3i and 33 are lifted above knob IS, and may then release it.

When the coil has been turned to horizontal position and the sling removed, the frame I is manipulated to enter the cantilever arm 21 into the eye of the coil, as illustrated in Fig. 9. The coil is then lifted from the coil turner cradle and conveyed to the apparatus wherein it is to be mounted with its axis horizontal, lowered into place, and the frame manipulated to withdraw arm 2! from the eye of the coil.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the single hoist-line implement I may be employed to convey a coil with the axis of the coil either vertical or horizontal. The entire procedure for conveying a coil from the storage pit to the apparatus in which the coil is to be mounted for use may be safely and rapidly carried out by a single operator with no heavy manual labor required. This makes it feasible to store coils in vertical stacks as described.

It will be understood that the coils will be received at the pit P already mounted on the slings F and that the apparatus herein disclosed may be utilized for conveying the coils from the vehicles on which they are delivered to their positions in the stacks S. If the coils are received without slings, it is contemplated that the coils shall be deposited horizontally on the coil turner T, or a similar one, slings inserted therein, the coils then turned to vertical position and lifted and conveyed to the stacks.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. Handling apparatus for hollow coils and the like comprising a o-shaped frame, means on the upper arm of the frame for suspending it from the hook of a hoist, a pivot pin extending transversely through the lower arm of the frame, and a pair of grappling hooks pivoted on the pin and depending therefrom, said hooks being cooperable to grapple hook-engaging means on a sling for carrying a coil or the like with its axis vertical, said arms being spaced apart sufiiciently and the lower arm and hooks being of such cross-section in a plane transverse to the length of the lower arm that the lower arm together with the hooks may be entered into the hollow of a coil or the like for carrying it with its axis substantially horizontal, said hooks being normally biased to a closed sling-grappling position but being movable to retracted sling-disengaging position upon beng lowered further into engagement with a sling, and a pair of latching levers, one for each hook, pivoted on the lower arm and engageable with the hooks for latching the hooks in retracted position.

2. Handling apparatus for hollow coils and the like comprising a C-shaped frame, means on the upper arm of the frame for suspending it from the hook of a hoist, a pivot pin extending transversely through the lower arm of the frame, and a pair of grappling hooks pivoted on the pin and depending therefrom, said hooks being cooperable to grapple hook-engaging means on a sling for carrying a coil or the like with its axis vertical, said arms being spaced apart sufiiciently and the lower arm and hooks being of such cross-section in a plane transverse to the length of the lower arm that the lower arm together with the hooks may be entered into the hollow of a coil or the like for carrying it with its axis substantially horizontal, said hooks being normally biased to a closed sling-grappling position but being movable to retracted sling-disengaging position upon being lowered further into engagement with the sling, a pair of latching levers, one for each grappling hook, pivoted on the lower arm and engageable with the grappling hooks for latching them in rectracted position, said latching levers being pivoted. for movement between latching and releasing positions, and solenoid-controlled means carried by said lower arm for holdng the levers in latching position.

3. Handling apparatus for hollow coils and the like comprising a C-shaped frame, means on the upper arm of the frame for suspending it from the hook of a hoist, grappling hooks pivoted on the lower arm of the frame and depending therefrom, said hooks being cooperable to grapple hook-engagin means on a sling for carrying a coil or the like with its axis vertical, said arms being spaced apart sufficiently and the lower arm and hooks being of such cross-section in a plane transverse to the length of the lower arm that the lower arm together with the hooks may be entered into the hollow of a coil or the like for carrying it with its axis substantially horizontal, said hooks being normally biased to a closed sling-grappling position but being movable to retracted sling-disengaging position upon being lowered further into engagement with a sling, and latch means carried by the lower arm of the frame and engageable with the hooks for latching the hooks in retracted position.

4. Handling apparatus for hollow coils and the like comprising a C-shaped frame, means on the upper arm of the frame for suspending it from the hook of a hoist, a pair of grappling hooks pivoted on the lower arm of the frame and depending therefrom, said hooks being cooperable to grapple hook-engaging means on a sling for carrying a coil or the like with its axis vertical, said arms being spaced apart sufficiently and the lower arm and hooks being of such cross-section in a plane transverse to the length of the lower arm that the lower arm together with the hooks may be entered into the hollow of a coil or the like for carrying it with its axis substantially horizontal, said hooks being nor mally biased to a closed sling-grappling position but being movable to retracted sling-disengaging position upon being lowered further into engagement with a sling, and a pair of latching levers, one for each hook, pivoted on the lower arm and engageable with the hooks for latching the hooks in retracted position.

5. Handling apparatus for hollow coils and the like comprising a C-shaped frame, means on the upper arm of the frame for suspending it from the hook of a hoist, a pivot pin carried by the lower arm of the frame, and a pair or" grappling hooks pivoted on the pin and depending therefrom, said hooks being cooperable to grapple hook-engaging means on a sling for carrying a coil or the like with its axis vertical, said arms being spaced apart sufliciently and the lower arm and hooks being of such crosssection in a plane transverse to the length of the lower arm that the lower arm together with the hooks may be entered into the hollow of a coil or the like for carrying it with its axis sub" stantially horizontal, said hooks being normally biased to a closed sling-grappling position but being movable to retracted sling-disengaging position upon being lowered further into engagement with a sling, and a pair of latching levers, one for each hook, pivoted on the lower arm and engageable with the hooks for latching the hooks in retracted position, and solenoid-controlled means carried by the lower arm for holding the levers in latching position.

STANLEY F.- JACKES.

RAY H. SHEETS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 594,644 McCorkile Nov. 30, 1897 597,438 Schilling Jan. 18, 1898 667,440 Halsey Feb.5, 1901 1,367,044 Hausler Feb. 1', 1921 2,139,772 Ringe Dec. 13, 1.938

2,384,396 Peyer Sept. 4, 1945 2,387,625 Walther et al Oct. 23, 1945 

